Cleaning device



July 30, 1940. F. B. sEEBr-:RGER 2,209,544

CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1938 Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES zoe-,544

2,209,544 CLEANING DEVICE Fred B. Seeberger, Yeadon, Pa., assignor of onehalf to Isaac C. Application August 4,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cleaning devices adapted to act as a receptacle for cleaning solutions, the dispensing of such solutions being controlled by the operator through automatic valve means.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and eiicient fluid dispensing means that will be operative under all conditions where its use is indicated, and' that will not collapse, be come distorted, or inoperative after little use'.

Another object of this invention is to provide a. cleaning device that has a vsubstantially rigid reservoir for holding fluid, the sides of which are exible, and that will yield only upon pressure being applied to said sides, and that .may be placed in any position or carried in the pocket of the user without leaking and be ready for instant use.

Reservoir sponges have been used with indifferent success. The cheaper grades of composition rubber from which articles of this character must be molded, will not retain the molded shape to a sufficient degree to remain operative for any definite period of time. Frequently `they become distorted in stock before being sold. To overcome this tendency to distortion a certain degree of rigidity is necessary to the supporting structure. Rigidity that yields only to a' prede,` termined amount of pressure is essential to a reasonable period of useful operativeness. vThis 1 rigidity must be properly determined and distributed in the respective walls of the structure so that the valving action upon exertion of pressure thereto is controlled, and the reaction upon release of the pressure applied is such that the. structure will return to its normal shape even when made from a poor grade composition.

The bath brush of the McCarthy Patent No. 792,278, is an example of such adevice, and while not adapted to the purpose of the present-invention, embodies in part the general principle of such a device as is herein disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1l is a' perspective view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a secticnal'elevation taken on line,

apa in Figure 1. 5 Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line b-b in Figure 1. 1, U g

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3, showing the side walls depressed to operate the valves in the base member.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the base member.

Shakop, Philadelphia, Pa.

1938, Serial No. 222,998

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the base member. l

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective View of the base member showing the valve operation when same is distorted by pressure.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the device showing a staple re-enforcing the seam.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the reservoirclosure.

The reference characters indicate the same parts in the drawing.

In the practice of the invention, the hollow body portion l of the device ismolded from suitable resilient material such as composition rubber of the proper density to resist distortion dur-A ing the ordinary handling of the device While being used. The top Wall 2A and the end walls 3 are substantially the same thickness and form a substantially rigid foundation for the reservoir, While the side walls 4, Fig. 3, are approxi,

mately one-half the thickness oi the top and end walls. These walls are easily fiexed due to the rigidity of the top and end Walls .with which they are integral. For a specific density of composition this would make the top and end walls one-quarter inch thick and the side Walls one-.V eighth inch thick. These measurements are not absolutely fixed but it has been found in actual practice that the relative proportions produce uniformly operative results, and the collapse of the body portion is thereby prevented and the useful life of the reservoir is indefinitely ex-y tended.

A flange member 5, of substantially the thickness of the sifde walls 4, extends around the periphery of the body portion I, the lateral extension being approximately three-sixteenths of an inch to provide adequate surface for a seam between the respective parts. A grip rail 6 provides means for gripping the body portion toprevent same from slipping from the hands while using the device, and also acts asa retainingv means to hold the device in a rack when not in use.

A substantially rigid base member 7, having a cross section area 8, immediatelyadjacent the lpoint-wherey it joins the body portion ilange member 5, of approximately seventy-rive per cent of the thickness of the top and end walls of the body portion i,.furnishes a closure forv the hollow body of sufficient resistance to perma-l nent distortion or set to return the structure to its original size and shape.- This heavy portion 8 which is uniform in thickness within the hollow area of the body portion I, has a rectangular centrally disposed recess 9 reducing the thickness of this portion of the base member to onehalf of the surrounding composition. This rectangular recess countersunk portion permits flexing of the base portion at a predetermined point in said base member. A series of round depressions EIB, which form the valve members, reduce the thickness of the material within their area to approximately forty one-thousandths of one inch, thereby providing integral diaphragm valves, the said diaphragme being slitted or perforated to a predetermined length II which is governed by the density and resilient quality of the composition used to manufacture the part.

The plane edge I2, of the base portion 'I, is substantially the same thickness as the laterally extending ange portion 5 on the body portion I. These parts when cemented together are of equal strength and flex uniformly without tendency to rupture or separate at the joint when pressure is applied to the sides of the body portion to flex the base portion when operating the Valves to dispense cleaning fluids, and are of suflicient strength to control the base member I as shown in Fig. 4. The rigidity of the base member forces the sides of the body to return to a parallel position thereby compelling the structure to regain its normal shape and keep the reservoir in its neutral or non-dispensing condition.

Fig. '7 shows the curvature of the valve member slit II as it would appear when in operation` The diaphragm forms a concave depression which causes the slit il to open as shown at point I3 toward the lower side of the base member. Upon application of pressure to the sides of the body portion, the built up pressure within the reservoir, and the flexing action exerted upon the base portion forces the liquid contents through the valve slits H. Upon release of the exerted pressure on the reservoir the yielding rigidity of the base portion forces the reservoir to return to normal position and to suck in sufficient air to replace the dispensed liquid. The structure is so designed as to permit vigorous operation of the device without leaking or involuntary dispensation of its fluid contents during the cleaning or dispersing operation. a

A cellular member I5, is cemented into the receptacle portion I5 of the base member T, to provide means for dispersing the uid contents of the device. This cellular member may be composed of what is generally known as sponge rubber, or it may be felt, natural sponge, synthetic sponge, or other material specifically adapted to act as on absorbent and detergent dispersion means suitable for cleaning certain surfaces.

An opening IS, shown in Fig. 22, is provided to permit the device to be filled with such cleaning materials as may be found desirable to use, said opening being recessed at the entrance I'I to allow easy filling and also provide space for the top of the cork or plug closing member I8. The

bore of the opening I6, immediately below the.

recessed portion II, is gradually constricted for about one-half the-length of said opening, and

immediately below the extreme point of constriction there is provided a recess or undercut portion I 9 which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the plug portion 2!! entering the opening, the balance of the opening IG is exactly the diameter of the plug or closure portion 20 of the plug I8.

In practice, this type of closure effectively seals the reservoir of the device and insures leakproof operation. The plug portion 20 entering the constricted area forces the constricted surplus downward and outward into the recessed portion I9, thereby securely sealing the closure against pressure from within the reservoir when the valves are operated by flexing the body member. A twisting pull is required to remove the plug for the refilling of the reservoir. The dotted lines in Fig. 9 indicate the normal position of the constricted area before the plug portion 20 enters the opening.

In assembling the body portion I, and the base member 'I, it has been found desirable for certain applications of the device, because of the rough usage to which it is subjected, to re-inforce the joint between said members with stitches or staples 2I as shown in Fig. 8. These stitches or staples are not essential to operativeness and are merely used Where need for additional strength is indicated by the type of work to be done.

The conventional type plug o-r cork has been found to be the most emcient means for closure when use d in conjunction with the specific type of constricted opening as is disclosed in the present invention. The constricted opening being molded does not increase the cost of production over that of the usual straight hole and incidently provides a closure that does not easily get out of order because of wear, it is easy 'to operate, and its general eciency is equal, if not superior to the usual screw cap closure the cost of which in the present instance is prohibitive.

While controlled dispensation and dispersion of cleaning fluids is the prime object of this invention, there is frequent necessity for removing obstinate dirt particles, insects, etc., from glass surfaces, particularly automobile wind shields. For this purpose a soft metallic wool is imprege nated with the composition used in the molding of the base portion 'I at what is nominally the front edge of the device 22, bronze wool being preferred. Metallic Wool impregnation is rcstricted specically to the front edge area 22, and does not come into contact with the surfaces being cleaned unless the operator tilts the sponge reservoir to bring this front portion 22 into action. This metallic impregnated area is adjacent to, but independent from the cellular detergent dispersion member I4. However, for specific cleaning solutions it may be found desirable to use stainless steel or other types of metallic wool that resist corrosive action. Devices of this character are not suitable for scrubbing cr the removal of obstinate dirt particles, such dirt must be removed by collateral means, preferably a soft metallic wool impregnated in a. denite part of the structure where it may readily be employed when required.

What is claimed as the invention and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A cleaning device comprising a semi-rigid. hollow body portion having oppositely disposed flexible side walls, a substantially rigid base member having a countersunk centrally disposed slitted valve portion, a cellular member disposed in said base member, metallic wool impregnated in the lower face of the base member at one end thereof and adjacent to the cellular member, a constricted opening in the body portion, and a plug closure therefor.

FREDB. SEEBERGER. 

